Lap Definition

lăp
lapped, lapping, laps
noun
laps
The loose lower part of a garment, which may be doubled or folded over; skirt of a coat or gown.
Webster's New World
The front part of the skirt when it is held up to form a hollow place in which things can be carried.
Webster's New World
The front part from the waist to the knees of a person in a sitting position.
Webster's New World
The portion of a garment that covers the lap.
American Heritage
The part of the clothing covering this.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
verb
lapped, lapping, laps
To be folded.
Rough edges must lap under.
Webster's New World
To lie partly upon something or upon one another; overlap.
Webster's New World
To lie partly over or on.
Each shingle lapping the next; shadows that lapped the wall.
American Heritage
To project beyond something in space, or extend beyond something in time.
Webster's New World
To wrap; enfold.
Webster's New World
idiom
the lap of luxury
  • Conditions of great affluence or material comfort:

    an heiress living in the lap of luxury.

American Heritage
drop into someone's lap
  • to cause to be someone's property or responsibility
Webster's New World
in the lap of luxury
  • surrounded by luxury
Webster's New World
in the lap of the gods
  • beyond human control or power
Webster's New World
lap up
  • to take up (liquid or liquid food) by lapping
  • to eat or drink greedily
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Lap

Noun

Singular:
lap
Plural:
laps

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Lap

  • the lap of luxury
  • drop into someone's lap
  • in the lap of luxury
  • in the lap of the gods
  • lap up

Origin of Lap

  • From Middle English lappen (“to fold, wrap") from earlier Middle English wlappen (“to fold, wrap"), from Old English *wlappan, *wlæppan, *wlappian (“to wrap"). from Proto-Germanic *wlapp-, *wrapp- (“to wrap, fold, roll up, turn"), from Proto-Indo-European *werb- (“to bend, turn"). Cognate with Middle Dutch lappen (“to wrap up, embrace"), Danish dial. vravle "to wind", Old Italian goluppare "to wrap, fold up" (from Germanic). More at envelop, develop

    From Wiktionary

  • From Old English lapian, from Proto-Germanic *lapajanan, akin to Old High German laffen (to lick), Old Norse lepja, Danish labe, Old Saxon lepil, German Löffel (spoon). Cognate with Latin lambere (“lick"). French lamper is a loanword from German. Compare Danish leffe, dialect German läffeln.

    From Wiktionary

  • Old English læppa (skirt or flap of a garment), from Proto-Germanic *lapp-, confer Middle Dutch lappe, Old High German lappa, German Lappen, Old Norse leppr (“lock of hair").

    From Wiktionary

  • The sense of "to get a lap ahead (of someone) on a track" is from 1847, on notion of "overlapping." The noun meaning "a turn around a track" (1861) is from this sense.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English lappe lappet, lap from Old English læppa lappet

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English lappen from lappe lap, lappet lap1

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English lapen from Old English lapian

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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